Angle-measure for builders.



No. 7|7,257. Patented nec. 3o, |902.

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ANGLE MEASURE FUR BUILDERS. (Application led Feb; 8, 1902.! (No Model.) v

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UNITED STATES PATENT EFICE.

FLETCHER NOLF, OF MOOREPABK, MICHIGAN.

ANGLE-MEASURE FOR BUILDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,257, dated December 30, 190.2.

Y Application led February 8,1902. Serial No. 93,150. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FLETCHER NOLF, acitizen of the United States, residing at Moorepark, in the county of St. Joseph, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Angle-Meter for Builders, set forth in the annexed specification.

The objectof this invention is to constructv what I term an angle-meterfor builders,

designed to aid in the iindin g of lengths, cuts, and miters of rafters.

The angle-meter consists in general of a chart of any proper material bearing printed characters and of a transparent rule separate from the chart to be used in connection with the same, all as particularly set forth in the following description and thedrawings.A

In the accompanying drawings, forming av part of this specification, Figure l is a broken part of the chartin plan View; Fig. 2, a broken plan'of the transparent rule, and-Fig. 3 is anv edge view of'Fig. 2 looking from a point at the right. Y

Referring to the parts of the drawings` pointed out by letters,'Ais a plumb-line scale,

printed on the chart in a position'understood` to bevertical, and C is a level-line scale, printed on the chart in a position understood as horizontal or level. This plumb-line scale A and the level-line scale Cform a right angle, like a carpenters square, and in form and as to the characters they showprinted on them are designed as an imitation of said style of square. They are divided off into inches of twelve spaces to the inch and are so marked.A The design is in making the chart that it shall be of a size that both the-plumb-line` scale A and the level-line scale O shall beboth twenty-four inches long; but the chart beingv here shown broken away for convenience onlyplaced on the drawing-sheet here to avoid confusion.

To aid in the measurements, l have printed on the chart imitation scale-bars B B', running parallel with each other and the plumbline scale A, and imitation scale-bars D, running parallel with each other and the level-line scale C. These imitation scale-bars B', B, and D are graduated into spaces and inches the same as the plumb-line scale A and the level-line scale C and are on the same scale of an inch to the foot; but no figures are placed on the drawings to point out the inches to avoid confusion, but will be so placed in the manufactured chart. These imitation scalebars B, B, and D are located at the twelve,

sixteen, and twenty-four inch centers of the plumb-line and level-line scales A and C, at

Vthe latter of which are the zero of measurement for the former. As said former are printed, they appear to be transparent, so that the under ones appear to show through the upper where they cross each other.

The orderof locating the imitation scalebars B' B D and the inch-centers 12, 16, and 24 is as follows. Starting at the lower end of the plumb-line scale A-and at the right-hand end of the level-line scale C, the first of the imitation scale-bars B', B, and D are placed at onev inch or twelve spaces and are at the first twelve-'inch centers,and hence l2 is marked at these points; the second at sixteen spaces and are at the first sixteen-inch centers, and hence 16 is marked at these points; the thirdat twenty-four spaces and are at the first twenty-four-inch centers, and hence 24 is marked at these points. AThese are also the second twelve-inch centers.

It shouldbe understood.. that the twelveinch centers as a matter of fact, 'the way they are used, are twelve spaces apart, the sixteeninch centers sixteen spaces between them, and the twenty-four-inch centers twenty-four spaces apart; but, to continue the order of placing, the fourth are at thirty-two spaces and at the second sixteen-inch centers, and. hence 16 is marked atthese points; the fifth are at thirty-six spaces and at the third twelveinch centers, and hence l2 is marked at these points; the sixth at forty-eight spaces and are at the second twenty-four inch centers, and hence 24 is marked at these points.

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These are also the points of the fourth twelveinch centers and the third sixteen-inch centers. This order is repeated for every four inches. At the two-inch points the centers here may be designated by printing on the chart l2 and 24 for inch-centers, for such is a fact, in lieu of printing simply the 24, as also may the centers be marked at the four-inch points 12 16 24, for these facts are understood by the user whetherthe extra numerals appear at the twoinch point and the four-inch point or not. These twelve, sixteen, and twenty-four inch centers, representing the same number of spaces as correspond with said numerals, are in common use with builders, and the repeating of the orderhere given forevery four inches is for the convenience of the users of the chart. These centers are used by builders to designate the distance from the center of one timber to the center of another. Forinstance, in the case of rafters placed at twenty-fourinch centers indicates that it is twenty-fourinches from the center of one to the center of another. A

In Fig. 2 is shown the transparent rule E, broken away at the upper end. It is divided off into inches, with twelve spaces to the inch, and bears characters the same as those on the plumb-line scale A and the level-line scale C. This rule is madeseparate from the chart. It is shown placed on the chart at E in Fig. 1 as when in use. No marks or characters are shown on the rulein Fig. l. To avoid confusion, those appearing as though shining through are on the imitation scale-bars B', B, and D and the plumb-line scale A. In the edge view of the rule E in Fig. 3 are shown fu'lcrum-points P for forcing into the chart when in use to hold it in the position desired. There is to be one of these fulcrum-points at each end and one at the center on the under side.

The following is an example explaining the use of the angle-meter: Suppose the roof plan of upright to be eight by twenty-four, the wing eight by eight, and the pitch of the roof to be forty-ve degrees. Measurements are line measurements, and hence deductions must be made for headings or ridges according to the thickness of material. To iind the length of principal rafter, set the fulcrumpoint P at the end of the transparent rule E on the level-line scale C at a point representing half the width of the building, which in this case is four feet, or at F; place the other end of the ruleE at H on the plumb-line scale A. Thus the rule is located at an angle of forty-tive degrees, the pitch required. The length of the principal rafter is indicated on the rule E from F to H. To nd cut of principal rafter, the rule E, remaining in the same position, F to O on the level-line scale C is the level or horizontal out and 0 to H on the plumb-line scale A is the upright or vertical cut. To iind the length, cut, and miter of the valley-rafter, leave the fulcrum-point P at the lower end of the rule Eat F on the level-line scale C undisturbed and swing said rule to J in Fig. l on the plumb-line scale, this position of the rule being here shown in dotted lines. From F to O on level-line scale C is the length of the Valley-rafter, from O to J on the plumb-line scaleA is the level cut, and O to F on the level-line scale C is the plu mb-line or vertical cut. From O to Jon the y plumb-line scale A, given above as the level out, is also the miter-cut of valley-rafter, and in this case is the length of the principal rafter as well.

The length of the jack-rafters is given on the imitation scale-bar B', said bar being at the first tWenty-four-inch center on the levelline scale C, said length being from L to I. The vertical and level cuts of the j ack-rafters are the same as those of the principal rafters.

The above shows a use and operation of the angle-meter. To give all of the many uses is not deemed necessary even if it were possible, but I design to print on circulars of instruction, to accompany the angle-meters when disposed of, a sufficient number to familiarize builders with their use and mode of operation.

The division of distances given on the plumb-line scale A, the level-line scale C, th imitation scale-bars B, B', and D, and on the transparent rule E, may be changed, and in said case the scale adopted as well, to suit wishes and convenience.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-

An angle-meter for builders, comprising a chart bearing a representation of a plumb-line scale and a level-line scale located at right angles to cach other, and having their inner edge graduated in like spaced distances in succession, and with marked centers in conformity with the graduation of said distances on the plumb-line scale and the level-line scale; and bearing imitation scale-bars graduated at the edge in the same successive spaced distances, placed parallel with each other and with the level-line scale, and having their graduated edge at the centers of the plumbline scale; like imitation scale-bars placed parallel with each other and with plumb-line scale and having their graduated edge at the centers of the level-line scale, and a transparent rule spaced in like distances as the scale-bars and the plumb-line and the levelline scales, made separate from the chart, and provided with fulcrum-points for forcing into the chart, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

FLETCHER NOLF. Witnesses:

SHEA C. WEST, R. G. WEST.

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